Last week, news broke that Donald Trump will be honored in August as the Sarasota Republican Party’s 2012 “Statesman of the Year” — a title, the businessman tells POLITICO, that he’s not used to holding, despite a career replete with side projects.

“It’s a new title, it’s not something I’ve had,” said Trump. “I’m known for somebody that has had a very smart career and a very successful career.… It’s an honor to have that word used but it’s not a word that’s been used for me. I’ve taken issues head on and some of those issues have been controversial, but they’re nonetheless important.”

Despite his new title, Trump says the country could benefit from leaders willing to stir things up.

“The problem with this country is we don’t take controversial issues head on. Everybody wants to be so proper and correct. ‘Statesman’ is not a word that I would necessary say has been applied to me over the years, but what I do is good for the country.”

Trump says the Sarasota Republican Party is particularly attracted to him because “they like my statement on China, which three years later Obama is starting to pick up on. They like my statement on OPEC, which Obama has never picked up on.”